Straw-stacker.



No. 706,2I4. Patented Aug. 5, |902.

J. B. BABTHOLOMEW. I

STBAW STACKEH.

(Application led Sept. 8, 1894.)

(No Nudel.) 2 Shams-Sheet I.

Wtnes. JOHN BB RTHoLoMEw Inv/amm $1271.

Th: NoRms Pains co, maremma., wnumdou. n. c.

Patented Aug. 5, |902. J. B. BARTHDLOMEW.

STRAW STACKER.

(Appncation med sept. s, 1994.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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JOI-IN B. BARTI'IOLOMEIV, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO AVERY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

STRAW-STACKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '70 6,214, dated August 5, 1902.

Application filed September 8, 1894. Serial No.522,436. .Ne mnfw To all, wim/1t t may concern: 7 a similar view of the inner section, and 5o Beitknown that I, JOHN B. BARTHOLOMEW, Fig. 8 a similar view of the two sections when a citizen of the United States, residing at Pefolded together. oria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illi- In the drawings I have shown the carriage 5 uois,haveinvented certain new andusefulImand framework of a portable stacker conprovements in Straw-Stackers; and I do destructed separately from the thresher or sepaclare the following to be a full, clear, and exrater. Inasmuch as at the present time there act description of the invention, such as will are numerous forms of mechanism of this enable others skilled in the art to which itapclass it is unnecessary to here describe in de lo pertains to make and use the saine, reference `tail the one selected for illustration, it being being had to the accompanying drawings, and sufficient to say thatA indicates the ground- 6o to the letters of reference marked thereon, wheels; I3, the frame or bed mounted therewhich form a part of this specification. on; C, the horizontally-vibratable platform This invention relates to improvements in connected with the frameB bya vertical pivot i5 mechanism for adjusting or manipulating' the and by suitable mechanism of any known stackers which are now commonly used in form for causing thereciprocatorymovement connection with threshing machinery for re of the platform and the stacker supported movi11g,felevating, and piling the straw from thereon. As shown, for instance, in the patwhich the grain has been threshed. ent to Reeves and Reeves, No. 302,588, dated zo The invention relates more particularly to .Iuly 29, 1884, this presenting one of the nua construction and arrangement of parts by merous examples of the mechanisms known 7o which the outer end or section of a twopart at the time of my invention for attaining the carrier can be more easily thrown up and horizontal vibrating of the stacker-frame on down or folded and unfolded. its supporting-frame, and reference may be z5 The principle of the present invention can made to said patent for structural details perbe embodied in several forms of mechanism. taining to this Well-known part referred to At present I prefer one constructed and arabove as the mechanism for causing the reranged substantially as shown in the accomciprocatory movement of the platform and panying drawings. the stacker supported thereon. It will be ungo Figure l is a side elevation of a stacking derstood that the mechanism shown is merely mechanism embodying myimprovements, the typical of any known means for this purpose 8o parts being in the positions occupied when and is notherein claimed per se. From the folded up or during transportation. Fig. 2 platform-frame there rise upward standards is a side view of the operative parts, exclu- D at the rear and hinged links` Eand E at 35 sive of the vehicle bed and wheels, showing the front.

them in the positions occupied when the The stacker proper is formed with an endstacker is unfolded and in operation. Fig. 3 less carrier or conveyer, which is supported is a plan view of the parts of the two sections upon a frame or support formed in two secof the carrier frame or support adjacent to tions G G, the outer or rear section G' being 4o the hinges or pivots. Fig. at is a section on secured to the inner or forward section G by the line fo Q0 of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a side View, Aa hinge or pivots at g, around which it can 9o partly broken away, of the stacker mechanbe vibrated vertically. The links E E are ism in folded position and provided with a at their upper ends pivoted to the section G. form of draft devices or folding mechanism The said inner section has inclined bars l-I,

.45 different from that shown in the figures alwhich brace and strengthen the inner secready described. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are crosstion of the carrier and ride on antifriction 95 sectional views of the sections of the carrier rollers or wheels It, mounted on a transverse or conveyor frame of the stacker, Fig. 6 bevertically-movable shaftI. Thisshaft issuping a cross-section of the outer section, Fig. ported by ropes I', secured to the bearingsockets il and extending up over pulleys t" on the uprights D and thence down to a shaft J, mounted on the platform-frame,rthis shaft J having drums for winding the rope and being provided with a rotating mechanism consisting of a worm-wheelj' and worm and crank-shaft atjz. When the crank and worm are turned, the shaft J is rotated in such a way as to wind the ropes I', andthereby elevate the shaft I and4 the stacker-sections G G. The links E are, as shown, longer than the links E, whereby as the shaft I is raised the rear or outer end of the stacker W-ill move both rearwardly and upwardly.

Owing to the great weight of the rear or suspended parts of the stacker it becomes necessary during the time that the machine is being transported from place to place to fold the outer or rear section G' inward or forward upon the part G. To readily accomplish this, I provide a mechanism by which both the operation of folding the outer section inward and the operation of again throwing it outward can be accomplished.

K represents a bar or frame, which is secured'to the outer section G near that end which is connected with the section G. When the two sections of the elevator-frame are.

' this frame or bar are connected the draft devices or connections by means of which the outer section of the elevator or carrier frame is folded and unfolded relative to the inner section. As shown in Figs. l and 2, such draft connections comprise a link L, which extends forward from its connection with the bar or frame K, preferably to about the position indicated in the drawings, where at its end it is provided with a block and Dulley M.v

N represents a wire rope or other suitable fiexible draft connection, one end of which is secured at m to the section Gy and the other end to a suitable windingdevice, such as the shaft P. Preferably thisrope extends from its connection at m backward to and around the pulley M, thence forward and around a pulley Q upon the frame-section G,and thence to the shaft P, which latter is preferably mounted upon the links E and is provided with a crank or other means for rotating it and with drums p, upon which the ropes may be wound.

I prefer that there should be two sets of draft connections, one on either side of the elevator or carrier frame,and that they should be operated simultaneously, to secure which the shaft P extends continuously across the machine.

0n comparing Figs. l and 2 of the drawings it will be seen that the vibrating outer or rear section of the carrier frame or support is provided not only with means for turning it upon the hinge or pivot at g, but also vocale= with means for throwing the center of gravity of that section from one vertical line to another. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, the pulling strain exerted through the draft connections will cause the outer end of the section G' to swing up to a line a little beyond the vertical line t t through hinge g and to or nearly to the line u u, which is perpendicular to the line of draft through the points g, 7c, and Z, said points all lying in a straight line when the parts of the stacker occupy the positions indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. When in this position', there is a lock to the draft, and further strain from the winding mechanism at Pp would be ineflicient; but the center of gravity of section G is now in such a vertical line that the upper or outer end of section G automatically tends to drop inward toward the section G. As soon as the upper end,of section G has by the action of gravity passed the line perpendicular to section G and has begun to drop, as described, the point of attachment kof the draft connections with the outer section G has crossed the line of draft above described, and instantly the gravity of section G as it moves to the folded position begins to exert a backward pull or strain on the draft devices, and the latter devices, together with the winding-shaft P, now serve as a means to support and check the descending section G', so that it is prevented from suddenly falling and can be lowered easily and gently to the folded position in Fig. l.

Now upon examining Fig. l it will be seen that after the carrierframe or support has been lowered by means of the shaft J and the ropes I the sections G G and the frame or bar K have been so changed in position relatively to the vertical line through pivot g that a forward draft exerted upon the link L by the mechanism at M L (and consequently upon the frame or bar K) will result in throwing the outer or free end of section G upward around the pivots g until itI has again passed said vertical line of the pivot g. As soon as it has passed said line its gravity will automatically carry it farther, and the point of connection of the draft devices with the outer section will cross the line of draft and the point of attachment 7c will rise upward. As

IIO

the latter occurs a backward pull begins to be again exerted on the link and the rope, which can be controlled by the winding mechanism Pp. Thus by one and the same device I can accomplish both the folding and the unfolding of the stacker.

While I prefer, especially in a detached stacker on its independent vehicle-frame, to have the lower or bottom section G pivotally connected or hinged to the platform C, so that this section also can be raised or lowered, it will be seen that there are certain positions within a range for this lower section in which position the upper section can be caused to pass from one side of its vertical plane to the other without varying the position of the lower or inner section, dependence being placed upon a slight amount of momentuin. Hence all the features of the present invention are not limited to the swinging of the lower or inner frame G about its bottom hinge at tirnes when the upper section is to be adjusted around the hinge which connects it to the lower section.

I am aware that stackers have been made or proposed, as shown in the patent to Sprague, No. 406,788, dat-ed July 9, 1889, wherein the hinge between the uppersection and the lower one was such that the upper section could either be placed in line with the lower one or lowered outwardly beyond that line to distribute the straw, and while I do not specifically claim such particular modification as of my invention it will be understood that my peculiarly-arranged frame, bar, or extension K of the upper section beyond the pivot thereof can be advantageously applied for the manipulating of such a section as that shown in said Patent No. 406,788.

I do not limit myself to the details which I have described, as there can be numerous modifications made without departing from the essential features of theinvention. The operating or winding shaft P can be located in places other than that described-for instance, upon the forward links E. The link or rod L can be dispensed with, and the cord or rope N can be extended to the bar or frame K, if desired. The bar or frame K may be of modified character. It may be of the nature of a rack-segment secured to one of the carrier-sections, the companion segment being secured to the other. The swinging shaft P is preferably so arranged that there shall be but little variation in the length of those parts of the ropes which lie between the wheels Q and the winding-shaft P when the entire carrier is adjusted vertically.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified way of connecting the link L to the winding-shaft,

the rope N in this case passing around asingle pulley only at Q, and thence directly to the link.

It will be understood that my invention is adapted to be used in connection with elevating or carrying mechanisms of different kinds. Whenit isadaptedtoastraw-stacker,

-as represented in the drawings, it is desirable that the frame or support K, to which the draft connections for moving the outer section are secured, should be so inclined orarranged that the point of connection 7c should be situated forward of and above the hinge g when the parts are in normal working position and a little back of and below or directly below the hinge when the parts are in their folded position. This arrangement is illustrated in the drawings and gives the best results; but it will be understood that the disposition of the point of connection 7c will be varied according as the angle at which the carrierframe is `normally worked varies. Thus it will be understood that should the carrierframe incline downward when in normal working position and incline upward when folded the arrangement of the point of attachment 7c would be different from that shown in the drawings. This relation of the parts should, however, be maintained-that is to say, the connection of the draft devices with the outer section should be so disposed that when the upper section in its movement comes to a substantially vertical position the point 7; crosses the line which connects the hingeg and the inner point of connection or, attachment of the draft devices as the outer section moves from its extended to its folded position, or vice versa, as by this arrangementthe folding and unfolding of the outer section `may be accomplished by means solely of the winding mechanism for the flexible parts of the draft devices. When it is desired to move the outer section either to fold or unfold it, the rope or fiexible part of the draft devices is first wound in or upon the drums until the outer section comes to a substantially vertical position, which occurs when it has made about one-half of its movement, when the balance of the movement of the section is performed by gravity, the winding devices and draft connection being then employed to retard the movement ofthe outer section, preventing it from falling with violence.

I am aware that prior to my invention it has been proposed to construct a stacker of two sections" hinged together at their adjacent ends and to connect to the outer section the ends of a rope or cable adapted to be engaged at an intermediate point of its length by a winding-shaft journaled in bearings mounted on the supports of the inner stacker-section; also, that it has been proposed to connect the two sections of a stacker to opposite ends of a toggle and to provide ahandle or pull-rod at the point of connection of the toggle members for moving such point in opposite directions, accordingto the direction in which it was desired to move the outer carrier-section, the adjacent ends of said carrier-sections being also connected by a tension-spring.

Both of the constructions above referred to differ materially from my present improvements. As before pointed out, I so construct and relate the parts that the length of the draft devices is varied while the outer carriersection is turning about the hinge-axis, so that said devices exert a pull on the outer carriersection during a portion of its movement and act as a check to prevent any sudden movement of said outer section when the center of gravity of the latter passes the vertical plane of the hinge-axis.

In neither of the constructions last referred to were the draft devices adapted to act as a check to the movement of the outer carriersection. The first of the said constructions provided no means for checking the movement of the said outer section after its center of gravity had passed the vertical plane of the axis of the hinge connecting it with the IOO IIO

inner carrier-section, and vin the second of the said constructions a spring separate and independent from therdraft devices was eniployed to check the movement of the outer carrier-section when relieved from the force l exerted by the draft devices.

What Iclailn is- 1. In a straw-stacker, the combination of a carrier-frame having two sections hinged together, draft devices for movingr the outer section around its hinge-axis, and a guide or holder for the said draft devices on the inner section, said draft devices being connected to the outer section at a point substantially as set forth whereby said attaching-point comes to the line through the guide and the hingeaxis at the time the center of gravity of the outer section crosses the vertical plane of the hinge-axis, as described. y

2. In astraw-stacker, the combination with the carrier-frame consisting of two sections hinged together, of an arm or bar on the outer section, inclined toward the inner section when the sections are in line, and inclined away from the inner section when the outer one is folded, and draft devices connected to said arm, said parts being arranged substantially as described whereby a positive pull will be exerted on the draft devices by the gravity of the outer section at all points in its path of movement around its hinge-axis, substantially as set forth.

3. In a straw-stacker, the combination of a base or support, an inner carrier section hinged to said support, an outer carrier-section hinged to the inner section, draft devices connected to the outer section and arranged substantially as set forth to exert a pulling force in one direction on said outer section during a part of its movement around its hinge, and to exert a pulling force thereon in the opposite direction during the remainder of its movement around said hinge, substantially as described.

4. In a straw-stacker, the combination of a base or support, an inner carrier section hinged thereto, an outer carrier section hinged to the inner, means for moving both carrier-sections from a relatively low position where the center of gravity of the outer section is outside of the vertical plane of the hinge of said section when the sections are at right angles to each other to a relatively high position where the center of gravity of the outer section is inside of the said hinge plane when the sections are at right angles to each other, and a draft device connected to the outer section at a point substantially as described, wherebyit exerts a positive pull on the outer section and moves it to a position at right angles to the inner section, both when the entire carrier is in its lower position and when it is in its upper position, substantially as set forth.

5. In a stacker, the combination of a lower section horizontally vibratable, an upper section pivoted on the lower section to swing vertically forward and downward and backward to fold into portable position, an extension of the upper section behind the pivot thereof, a guide on the lower section, and aline having means connecting it with the extension and extended around the guide, said guide being located approximately on a right line drawn through the pivot and through the connection of the line with the extension when the vertically-swinging section is in a vertical position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

'JOHN B. BARTHOLOMEW.

Vitnesses:

HARRY N. BLAoKMoN, GEORGE F. CARSON. 

